Robin Keller EDC 102H 9/08/10 Personal Expertise Statement Almost every girl dreams of having a huge jewelry collection. To have a set of earrings or a necklace to go with every one of my outfits was something I only dreamed of. In the beginning of high school, one of my favorite hobbies was to shop. At the time, I was too young to get a real job and my wallet only consisted of the money I got from doing occasional babysitting jobs. As much as I wanted to buy the jewelry I saw on my shopping trips, I simply could not afford it. That is when I began to think of the possibility that I could make my own jewelry and design it to coordinate with what clothes I had. I started to pay closer attention to the jewelry I found in stores. I could look and see what materials they were made out of, and get a basic idea of how they could be put together. After a trip to a local craft store, I came home and started playing with the materials I bought. I got beads, wire, some chain, headpins and jump rings as well as a kit of jewelry making tools. By looking at a pair of earrings I already owned, I started to put together another pair. The finished product included a hook earring with a chain connected and beads attached to the chain, looking like a long cluster of colorful beads. As I continued to make different pieces of jewelry, my skill improved and my designs became more intricate. I became able to make a variety of different pieces of jewelry. My original pieces were mostly made of beads and chain, but as I improved I started making more wire pieces. I also became to be fast at making my jewelry. I could pick out my outfit and if I didn’t have any jewelry to match I could make some before I left for school. The amount of money I spend on materials is much less than the price for similar jewelry in stores. Also, I am free to design my jewelry however I would like so my options are almost endless. The only materials I have yet to buy and learn how to use are for metal welding which would allow me to make many other different styles of jewelry. I hope to someday take a course in which I will learn how to use welding tools and how to create my own metal jewelry. My mother helped me in gaining this skill. She is very creative and always supports me when I am interested in crafts. She helped me pick what materials I need and also has been learning to make jewelry along side with me. Without her support, I may not have continued making jewelry and not have gained the skill that I have today. Having this area of expertise makes me feel very accomplished and artistic. There is nothing more gratifying than when someone asked where I got one of my handmade pieces. I love the sense of instant gratification I get from quickly putting together a pair of earrings. Also, having this skill allows me to make jewelry as gifts for my friends and family. Though learning how to make jewelry came mostly natural to me, I would not be an expert if I had not kept practicing the skill.
EDC 102H
9/08/10
Personal Expertise Statement
Almost every girl dreams of having a huge jewelry collection. To have a set of earrings or a necklace to go with every one of my outfits was something I only dreamed of. In the beginning of high school, one of my favorite hobbies was to shop. At the time, I was too young to get a real job and my wallet only consisted of the money I got from doing occasional babysitting jobs. As much as I wanted to buy the jewelry I saw on my shopping trips, I simply could not afford it. That is when I began to think of the possibility that I could make my own jewelry and design it to coordinate with what clothes I had.
I started to pay closer attention to the jewelry I found in stores. I could look and see what materials they were made out of, and get a basic idea of how they could be put together. After a trip to a local craft store, I came home and started playing with the materials I bought. I got beads, wire, some chain, headpins and jump rings as well as a kit of jewelry making tools. By looking at a pair of earrings I already owned, I started to put together another pair. The finished product included a hook earring with a chain connected and beads attached to the chain, looking like a long cluster of colorful beads.
As I continued to make different pieces of jewelry, my skill improved and my designs became more intricate. I became able to make a variety of different pieces of jewelry. My original pieces were mostly made of beads and chain, but as I improved I started making more wire pieces. I also became to be fast at making my jewelry. I could pick out my outfit and if I didn’t have any jewelry to match I could make some before I left for school.
The amount of money I spend on materials is much less than the price for similar jewelry in stores. Also, I am free to design my jewelry however I would like so my options are almost endless. The only materials I have yet to buy and learn how to use are for metal welding which would allow me to make many other different styles of jewelry. I hope to someday take a course in which I will learn how to use welding tools and how to create my own metal jewelry.
My mother helped me in gaining this skill. She is very creative and always supports me when I am interested in crafts. She helped me pick what materials I need and also has been learning to make jewelry along side with me. Without her support, I may not have continued making jewelry and not have gained the skill that I have today.
Having this area of expertise makes me feel very accomplished and artistic. There is nothing more gratifying than when someone asked where I got one of my handmade pieces. I love the sense of instant gratification I get from quickly putting together a pair of earrings. Also, having this skill allows me to make jewelry as gifts for my friends and family. Though learning how to make jewelry came mostly natural to me, I would not be an expert if I had not kept practicing the skill.